As many of our residents know, the current Hudson Library located in the city municipal building is woefully inadequate.  It's easy for everyone to agree upon that.  What is more controversial is exactly what we should do about it, and how much it should cost.

The search for a solution began with the possible purchase of a parcel of land near the corner of Carmichael and Vine St, and then construction of a new facility at that site.  Property acquisition, construction, and equipment purchase for a new facility was expected to cost approximately $12 milllion, and take up to five years to complete.  Although the site is close to the YMCA and is a high-traffic area easily accessed by the rest of the community, a costly land purchase combined with a costly new construction project left this option stalled and the search continued.

It was then discovered the the Nuclear Management Company (NMC) building at the corner of First St and Vine St was soon to be vacated and put up for sale.  This unique building is located in the heart of downtown, and overlooks one of Hudson finest assets, the riverfront. The flowing architecture and amazing views, plus the incorporation of many 'green' design and construction principles, make this building a highly attractive and desirable location.  No one doubts that it is a beautiful facility, but the question remains, what is the cost and can we afford it?

The current plan for acquisition, conversion and equipment at this site would cost an estimated $9.5 million, or $2.5 million less than a new facility.  The Hudson Area Library Foundation estimates that half this cost could be raised from private sources, such as individual philanthropists, organizations, foundations and corporations. This is the same model that was used when Stillwater build their new library.  As for the citizens and taxpayers footing the rest of the bill, this plan would add $24 per $100,000 of assessed property value to the taxes; $9 would go toward the purchase, $16 would go toward ongoing operating costs. The residents of the Town of Troy, which is not part of the municipalities operating the library, would pay approximately $6 per $100,000. 

Also for consideration is the opportunity cost of taking this building off the tax roll, and the cost of lost tax revenue over time. The NMC building has a tax assessed value of $3,559,100, generating $51,226 in yearly tax revenue (2007 tax report). To this I say that a library is one public service that supports education and growth of the community.  It attracts well-educated and ambitious citizens, and supports local programs of all kinds. The library carries these intangible benefits whose benefits far outweigh the loss of any tax revenue.

So the question stands - can we afford this? I'd argue we can't afford to miss this opportunity. Although there is a cost associated with this plan, it is the most affordable plan so far. Besides the cost, there isn't a better location for the new library. This is an investment opportunity of a lifetime; an investment in our community and our future. As the library association says, this plan is Attractive, Available, Accessible, and Affordable.  Vote for the Lakefront Library on April 1st, and vote for our future.

For more information about the proposed Hudson  Library plan, visit www.LakefrontLibrary.com.